Hethwill, the Red Duke

I do not keep that many magic moments from ST, majority are from OW and most of them aren't even battle instances. OW due to the nature of the infinite diversity of encounters promotes so many stunning moments. It is by far my favourite game mode. One of the fond memories I have is post EA wipe going on the circumnavigation ( was tired of the tug of war with the french ) and having the DAS TS as sort of a radio hearing what was going on around Pampatar "the Eternal city" went all the way around and eventually arrived at Key West. In the old terrain modeling the port building sat atop the rock, like a fantasy setting castle nested upon a crag. The was fog and sun was rising, I was approaching from the WSW and suddenly out of the mist, brightened from the low rising sun, that "city" floating in the fog in the distance was such an amazing moment. On top of that the American Navy captains that were in the area did receive their dutch ally in truest role play form. That was the cherry on top of the cake. Can't remember the name of the captains but they were appropriate and not just some gamer handles. On the same voyage running the gauntlet to La Tortue in my trusty Navy Brig being chased by pirate Trincs later in the same voyage was also a good thrill. The push back and forth in the Bahamas and the eternal combat in the lagoon between brits and pirates. This was the time of the the Pirate Kings. Way before the "american civil war" and all the *censored* that came afterwards. In the very first instance of Open World. Navigating by a real map pinned on my wall. The satisfaction it was circumventing Jamaica for the first time. Reaching the south and western cays after days at sea. Combat situations are too many and too far wide apart to even point one or two "magical" moments. Taking risks make all of them worthwhile. Some spectacular attacks and prizing merchants inside enemy ports or even prizing them while being escorted and running away with the prized ships. Too many hours learning from way better sea rovers out there and trying to emulate their deeds. Commanding a fleet versus the swedish in front of Coquibacoa with half the fleet having no TS and as such we were using TS and second in command typing the orders for the non TS folk - it brought everyone in the nation to play together, it was not limited to a clan, was everyone. Was exactly what a multiplayer combat game should be. No exclusion. Find ways to overcome limitation. Being a OW encounter, some 18v15 os so, there were ships ranging from Constitutions down to Brigs. The Essex was a novelty. One of the Swedish captains ( not sure if TrackTerror ) been terrorizing the good dutch folk with it. In the end the battle was not as decisive but was absolutely stunning and fun for both sides and received praise in the Swedish-Dutch war thread. Returning to Sea Trials the best was indeed prizing the enemy top ship - I was top in a Brig against a top in a Snow - and given the chances I decided to go pluck the crow as fast as possible. Next thing you notice is the enemy team at a loss wondering what happened to their snow and asking how we got a snow. But nothing, absolutely nothing beats when the Land Ahoy! upgrade hit. For me it was the decisive moment in NA. Everything changed. Everything made sense linking the where I am to where I am going to do battle. Last but not the least the first wreck I sailed to. Was deep in the fog with the setting sun. Having that ghostly figure materialize was a really precious moment. All in all games are only a platform for imagination to paint the most magical moments. No imagination, not half the fun. Really helps that I grew up around all types of games since childhood, tabletop, pen and paper, and even die cut wargames made by our club during high school, all require imagination Naval Action is no different and is amongst the best platforms, due to the historical setting, epic size, infinite encounter chances, community.

Yep. Hope to see them grouped by rate or sail plan. Running most of those at 3 - 4 slots atm. Niagara and Mercury running at 3 slots are hell decent.

Ah well, prophead Staggered spread at long visual to cover the most. Half way to spot a large swathe in sea and definitely a good setup for a wind bracket on the tag. And yes I agree with you in the identification of ships. Generic at long, full details at tag range.

PvP yields 3x the xp. Do the math. you get those slots pretty fast acting support brig to frigates and overall being a pain up their sterns.

Indeed it does. But you know, there's some tricks from air combat sims ( and even ground milsims ) that work perfectly in NA both in the OW and in combat instance. Taking time to learn routes and habits of the enemy pays off in the long run more than roving just for the sake of picking a fight.

Elite Dangerous level of insurance ( ship value base, cargo separate, equipment, etc ), sure. Anything below will be open to double standards

Oh, no bother at all. Do it quite often, these long cruises, especially after nation changes / wipes / testbed

Risk management is inherent quality of "perma loss" games. NA juggles a bit with that concept, more so with the changes placed in testbed. There's no full loss by default but can be a full loss if a player simply bets everything in one move. Plus the reality is... sea was a damn unknown thing. And using a bit of a dutch saying back in the day, we do not control anything beyond the range of our guns. Planning with friends in game is necessary. Risking a crossing can be as profitable as it can be a financial disaster Same with combatants. Should a retreat be viable ? Should push for a decisive victory ? We know every enemy ship sunk has a ripple effect now, starts with the combatants and goes down to the plantation owner / miner and all trade in between.

Pickle crossing full longitude mapping, from deep in mexico to lesser antilles should be around 5 hours. Yacht, no guns, from Fort Royal to Saint Mary's via north side of Saint Domingue / Haiti and north of Bahamas equals roughly 3 hours.

I did write Global Europe, not Global and Europe

Let's give it a try before we can establish what did and what doesn't. You may well go there and try to attack enemy nation fleets, hunt them around which puts you for sure in the line of fire for PvP. Flags were nice if powergaming junkies didn't take all advantages they could to mess other's game. Hence plan is good but execution due to users ain't.

Right. We all have points. Let's Think Global Europe then ? Might make it easier.

To all: If this going to be the old flametrollfestletssplitandspit or are we all going to discuss proper solution without trying to squeeze as much as possible each other's playing time ? Get yourself together sailors.

Oh, entire sector lockdowns by alt usage. Old old news. Power gaming fussock gingamobs

As an example, 1st rates can still engage 7th rates, kind of like "in missions". Simply attack them in the OW. just an idea

You can attack a NPC in the OW Senhor Lenhador ( and others ). Attack a pickle or a brig with a big ship just to test stuff.

Well, can't say it won't happen but how to control an entire nation population ...?!... how to be sure no one will defend ?.. and first of all you must raise hostility. I am pretty sure both sides will lose ships even before PBs are set. Is it worth the risk ? Is the reward enough ? Let the Lords of the Admiralty burn the oil in their lamps looking over charts and conquest maps.

I get it. But worth exchanging a valuable region for "not giving" away marks ? Even if it is not a resource region it might well be a "naval bases" region, close to enemy waters - high real estate value imo. Turtle, France did as well. Pirates seem to be everywhere in the map, same as some spanish. That is my guess as well. It makes all sense, same as a OW battle. No marks if ship doesn't sink.

In the admin line it refers damage, so I would guess it is like an assist maybe !?

And ?... Sorry if I miss something. Why give away a region ? Who says we will give away our region ?...

There you go, you even quote it correctly. You need to fight against the opponents in the PB to win Conquest Marks. Putting yourself in the line of fire but also delivering cannon shot to them.

Yes. Which is nice for standardization of "naval bases" as you can have multiple same model here and there.

Only if you sink ship !? Unsure but I reckon that is the case, you get rewards if you sink the ship.